Doomed Moviethon - Black Belly Of The Tarantula 1971

Black Belly Of The Tarantula
Directed By Paolo Cavara
Released: 1971
Starring: Giancarlo Giannini, Claudine Auger, Silvano Tranquilli, and Stefania Sandrelli
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Studio: Blue Underground

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A deranged killer is using long needles to paralyze his female victims before cutting them up with a knife. After his wife is murdered in such a fashion, Paolo Zani (Silvano Tranquilli), is questioned by Inspector Tellini (Giancarlo Giannini), who is heading up the investigation. When some blackmail concerning Mrs. Zani’s (Barbara Bouchet) infidelities are uncovered, Paolo flees and tries to solve the mystery himself. Suddenly drawn into a very sticky web of mystery, Inspector Tellini is at a complete loss as more beautiful women and even the police’s suspects end up dead. Believing that the inspector is getting too close for comfort, the killer decides to get personal to force Tellini off the case.

Paolo Cavara’s direction is airtight here in Black Belly Of The Tarantula. The tension is very high thanks to excellent plotting and a fine score by Ennio Morricone which swirls around with decadent breathiness and horrific discordance. The film’s editing by Mario Morra (Short Night Of The Glass Dolls) is complex and playful, tricking and distracting the audience yet still managing to entertain. The themes of sex, perversion, and voyeurism squirm throughout the movie and with them, a sense of dread that is delivered upon as danger lurks around every corner.

Giancarlo Giannini’s performance really makes this movie. George Hilton comes close to Giannini’s intensity in My Dear Killer but Inspector Tellini is a better written and superbly performed character. To watch Tellini go from a generic detective to seriously doubting his competence in his line of work to becoming dangerously obsessed with a case is just awesome. The inspector's interaction with his wife, Anna (Stefania Sandrelli), gives even more dimension to the character.

Another fine performance comes from Silvano Tranquilli (So Sweet, So Dead, The Bloodstained Butterfly) as Paolo Zani whose character is abandoned way too early. This is my only major complaint about the film. The idea of Zani working outside of the law looking for his wife’s killer while Tellini tries to catch him is introduced but all too quickly resolved. Another unfortunate moment comes from the obviousness of who the killer is in this film. But most Gialli go one way or the other: either the killer is impossible to identify or is pathetically easy to spot.

Even with these minor missteps in the plotting, Black Belly still moves at full speed to its end and there are enough red herrings to make you second guess yourself about the killer’s identity. While not gory in the least, the murderer’s methods are extremely brutal in scenes that are filmed in such a fashion that makes the victims’ deaths seem to move even slower and play out more horrifying than many other Gialli which employ excessive splatter effects. The film abandons the dated and kitschy 70s style of its contemporary Giallo brethren as well as wild camera angles and garish lighting. Instead, Black Belly focuses on the story and its characters delivering the sleaziness and nudity only in keeping with the perverse aspects of the plot. This is an excellent entry in the genre and a must see for Italian thriller fans. Also, be sure to check out Cavara's 1976 film, Plot Of Fear.

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DVD Stuff

Other than some scratches on the film during the credit sequence, Blue Underground's Black Belly Of The Tarantula DVD looks gorgeous in its 1.85:1 ratio. Audio is very clear with the option to watch the film in English mono or Italian mono with English subtitles. Extras include a rather bland yet informative interview with Lorenzo Danon about how his father (producer and co-writer, Marcello Danon) worked in the Italian movie industry. The other extras are limited to the film’s theatrical trailer and a TV spot; both have hilariously overdone narration. Check out the TV spot for a double feature of Black Belly and The Weekend Murders. Classic.